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<br />002358 <br /> <br />BUFFALO PEAKS <br /> <br />Statistics <br /> <br />Jurisdiction: Pike)San Isabel National Forest, <br />RARE II Study kea: <br />Wilderness Stud1 Area: <br />RARE II Reco~dation: <br />Reagan Administration Recommendation: <br />State of Color.ado Recommendation: <br />Conservationi~' Recommendation: <br /> <br />USFS <br />63,480 acres <br />56,950 acres <br />56,400 acres <br />36,060 acres <br />57,430 acres <br />58,000 acres <br /> <br />Location <br /> <br />The Buffalo leaks Wilderness Study Area is located on the <br />Continental Dicide between the Arkansas and South Platte River <br />drainages, a~ ten miles southeast of Leadville. <br /> <br />Wilderness Qualities <br /> <br />The Buffalo teaks area has traditionally been one of the most <br />productive bigiDrn sheep habitats in the state. The size of the <br />herd has remained constant at 40-60 animals for the past decade, <br />with normal fbctuations. However, in the 1960's, almost 100 <br />sheep used the area and, in 1955, 300 head used it, Protection of <br />this bighorn hEoitat is particularly important because it is the <br />only area in Cblorado with a herd for which all seasonal ranges <br />are located on national forest land.6 <br /> <br />The study unit. dominated by the peakS for which it is named, <br />contains large timbered basins, clear, pure mountain streams and <br />beautiful s~lpine meadows, In contrast to the rugged <br />topography al~ the Divide just 20 miles to the west, the Buffalo <br />Peaks WSA con~ts of a gentler, rolling terrain. This terrain <br />offers the pEblic many opportunities for recreation; in fact, <br />hiking, fishi~ and hunting are its primary uses. There are a <br />number of goof day trips available in Buffalo Peaks, contrasting <br />with the otbE areas nearby, such as the Collegiate Peaks <br />wilderness whkn requires more time and effort to traverse. <br /> <br />Resource Inf~tion <br /> <br />While much of the land in Buffalo Peaks is forested, the current <br />allowable ann~ sale quantity (ASQ) is only 2.6 mmbf. The Pike) <br />San Isabel N~onal Forest, as a whole, has a projected annual <br />sales volume ~r the next two decades of 143 mmbf. Thus, the <br />Buffalo Peaks would supply only 1.8 percent of the average annual <br /> <br />6Colorado Division of wildlife. <br /> <br />6 <br />